We spend approximately one third of our lives in bed. With such a large proportion of our lives spent in one place, it makes sense that this area is important to our health. However, many people do not take the health implications of a badly maintained sleeping area seriously, and are oblivious to the diseases and conditions that can be caused.
Statistics show that after 10 years, a mattress will double in weight due to dust mites or bed bugs. These creatures will feed off skin cells and produce allergens in the mattress. This in turn leads to respiratory conditions being triggered such as asthma, but also symptoms more commonly associated with hay fever such as runny nose, irritation in the eyes and lungs and sneezing. A survey carried out in the UK found that one in eight people changed their bed sheets less often than once a month and 27 percent were sleeping on mattresses more than 10 years old.
While it’s well-known that an older mattress can be a source of allergies — mostly from dust mites or mold — a new mattress would be worry-free.
Or would it?
Some 30 or more years ago, mattresses were made of untreated, natural materials, but now most come to the store bearing a host of petrochemicals, flame retardants and other additives.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission lists the following chemicals as the primary ones used in mattresses to meet current laws: boric acid, formaldehyde, antimony trioxide, decabromodiphenyl oxide, vinylidiene chloride, zinc borate, and melamine .
Most people have trouble believing that the mattress industry and the government have put poisonous chemicals in our mattresses to make them fireproof, and think they must use a different chemical. No, according to experts, the chemical used is exactly the same as the pesticide. Check the mattress law tag; if it says ‘Treated Cotton,’ it is likely boron/boric acid.
The initial reason for adding fire retardants to mattresses was commendable — fire marshals reported that more individuals died or were injured from mattresses or upholstered furniture catching fire than from any other type of fire.
But we’re now finding — from growing reports of illnesses seemingly linked to mattress purchases — that this solution may also have its serious drawbacks.
Many doctors had initially opposed the move to add chemicals to mattresses, fearing such potential adverse effects. But the law was enacted, nonetheless.
And as of July 1 2007, more bad news. The Web site PrescriptionBeds.com warns that new federal regulations require yet more fire retardant material in mattresses, hence more potentially allergic material for the sensitive sleeper to contend with.
A foam rubber company suggests that consumers who are chemically sensitive should check the mattress tag before they buy. If the label says that the mattress conforms to the July 1, 2007 fire retardant regulations, then those mattresses will have a heavier load of chemicals than those manufactured prior to the July 1 date.
You still can find mattresses that were manufactured prior to the July 1 date, so ask around if you are concerned, or talk to a bedding company for more details.
Fortunately, there is at least one good method to reduce mattress combustibility without adding harmful chemicals.
According to one organic mattress site, manufacturers can add a layer of wool to either side of an untreated cotton mattress. This serves as an effective fire barrier — no chemicals needed.
But there is another potential group of troublemakers in your mattress that you should be aware of — and that is pesticide residue.
Cotton is said to be the worst offender, because it is the most heavily sprayed crop. To see if your mattress has been treated, check the mattress tag. If the materials include “treated cotton,” then you can be assured that your mattress has these petrochemicals. Also, keep in mind that if your mattress is made from cotton, there is a good chance that cotton was sprayed with pesticides
According to CasanaturaInc.com, “Twenty-five percent of all the agricultural chemicals are used to grow cotton.”
However, some experts claim that the cotton retains little pesticide residue after going through the manufacturing process.
According to Ousmane Boye, an official at Senegal’s Ministry for Agriculture, some of the chemical insecticides and fertilizers imported to Senegal from Europe and the U.S. last year are restricted or banned in their country of origin.
There are 107 active ingredients in pesticides still used in the U.S. that are carcinogenic, and 14 are known to cause reproductive problems in animals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
And organo-phosphates are one pesticide type known to have serious, long-term effects on human health.
But pesticide residues may not be limited to your mattress. Sheets and bedtoppers — made from various man-made and natural components — can also be laden with it. And the residue of this “chemical stew” is being breathed in nightly by countless numbers of unsuspecting sleepers.
Restless Nights
For those with impaired immune systems — a problem more and more common — there can be serious health ramifications.
Symptoms may range from a common headache or joint ache, to unexplained rashes, eczema, nosebleeds, dizziness — even severe migraines, arthritis, ringing in the ears, nausea and more.
Well, all this might make you run out and buy a “hypoallergenic” mattress.
But wait a minute — a so-called hypoallergenic mattress may not solve your allergy problems — it could make them worse.
One Web site that tracks mattress complaints from purchasers said that many hypoallergenic mattresses actually trigger problems — and in many who never considered themselves “the allergic type.”
One South Dakota family reported the following after they bought a memory foam mattress pad and pillows from a popular discount store: “We went through problems for seven months. It started with minor problems and got worse – hives, kidneys hurting, swollen lips, flu feelings, cough, sore joints, etc. My wife was going to the doctor in an attempt to figure it out. We never suspected the pad and pillows. I finally ran across a Web site while considering what type of new bed to buy, in an attempt to resolve our problems. We removed the two memory foam pillows and the memory foam mattress pad, and within two days all problems were gone. Two months later, all is well.”
And a Florida couple reported this: “Out-gassing from our new adjustable air mattress gave me false symptoms of a heart attack. It came on gradually over a couple of days. (After going to the hospital) I felt better — until I came home. Moving the bed outside finally did the trick (all symptoms gone). I had also been depressed for a few days (very unusual for me), but the depression lifted within 24 hours of moving the mattress outside.”
And from Pennsylvania: “We bought our new mattress some nine months ago. We heard this type was very good. (But) the past few months my wife has been to numerous doctors for rashes, lumps and other problems. Her autoimmune system seems to be affected. She is now scheduled for a biopsy. We thought about what has changed in our lives, and the only difference is the mattress. It cost $2200, but it isn’t worth her health. Maybe it’s time to take it back, or just get rid of it.”
Getting Those Zzzzzzz’s
But while a mattress allergy may be annoying and problematic, there are solutions that work.
Buying another type of bedding could resolve the problem, if your allergies are limited to just a few suspect materials.
Or you could try a hemp mattress. Fewer pesticides are used to grow hemp than cotton and other bedding materials, so it tends to pose fewer problems for allergy sufferers.
Or you could go organic. More and more stores, many online, offer organic mattresses and bedding. Their products are guaranteed to be made of chemical-free, organically grown materials.
Some of the Web sites that offer these include: The naturalbedstore.com, lifekind.com, and organicmattresses.com.
You’ll need to do some research to find out which type may be right for you. Be sure to ask all your questions up front, before a purchase is made. Most mattresses and bedding have a no return/refund policy, so be sure you know the store’s policies before you buy.
Another route — if buying another mattress hasn’t solved your allergy problems, and because buying more than one new mattress can get very expensive (!) — is to schedule some allergy testing for dust mites and some of the more common chemicals and pesticides.
And here is some advice from ChemTox.com, an information-sharing Web site for health disorders from chemicals and pesticide exposure: “While many environmental factors can contribute to adverse health problems when sleeping, the first step to determining if the bed or sheets are the cause… simply sleep somewhere else – couch, etc. – This trial-and-error analysis, when repeated several times, will clearly demonstrate if the bed, detergents or bedroom is the problem.”
The most important thing to remember is — don’t get discouraged. If you can’t solve the problem on your first attempt, keep trying.
A process of elimination will likely solve the problem, and you’ll be back getting a good night’s sleep, once again.
I found this information on a site which offers the 10 best sources for organic and all natural mattresses:
Background Info:
Most conventional mattresses are made of petroleum-based polyester, nylon and polyurethane (PU) foam (all of which emit VOCs, especially when new) and treated with flame-retardant (FR) chemicals, such as boric acid, silicone and phosphates. They can also be wrapped in barrier cloths made from flame-resistant fibers, such as melamine and polyvinylidene chloride.
What To Look For:
Look for mattresses that are made with:
• All-natural, untreated wool, which is naturally fire-and-dust-mite-resistent, and preferably labeled “Pure Grow Wool,” which ensures that the wool has come from humanely treated and organically raised sheep.
• Organic cotton: used as both a wrapping material and as batting. Organic cotton is not fire-resistant, so in order to company with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the cotton is usually wrapped in wool layers.
• Natural latex, derived from rubber trees, which is a better choice than petroleum-based polyurethane.
The Top Eco Mattress Sources:
1 Keetsa: If you’re looking for an eco-friendly, all-natural and/or recyclable latex mattress, then Keetsa is your answer. Keetsa’s latex mattresses are made with non-toxic materials like wool, latex foam, unbleached cotton, bamboo blend and organic cotton fabrics. Their mattresses are compressed, covered in biodegradable plastic, and packed into 100% recyclable boxes printed with water soluble ink. Price: $440-$2,200
2 Hastens: Renowned Swedish mattress masters Hästens make each one of their mattresses by hand using only hard-wearing natural materials like horsehair, flax, wool, steel and pine, and each mattress comes with a 25-year warranty. And all the mattresses come in juicy colors and checkered patterns. Price: $4,000 -$23,000
3 Woodstock Organic Mattress: Based in Manhattan and Kingston, NY and featuring mattresses made by WJ Southard, another family-run and family-owned business located in Syracuse, all of Woodstock’s mattresses are handmade of 100% natural materials like organic cotton, wool, horsehair, and 98% pure latex. No polyester, polyurethane foam, or other harmful chemicals are used in the making or production of the mattresses. As they say, if they can’t pronounce it, they won’t put it in your mattress. Price: $799-$6,000
4 Pure Rest: Pure Rest is a family company that only sells online, and their mattresses are about as healthy as they come: organic and additive-free wool and cotton, and all natural latex. No plastic outers, no finishes, no additives. They even have a 3rd party test every year for contamination in their mattresses and disclose the results on their website. Price: $699 and up
5 Savvy Rest: organic mattresses made in central Virginia and available through a national network of independently owned stores. All mattresses are made of natural latex rubber, certified organic wool or certified organic cotton, and are natural, nontoxic, certified and independently tested. Price: $1,749-$3,399
6 Organic Mattress Store: an online retailer carrying a variety of all-natural mattress vendors, including Nature’s Finest, WJ Southard, GreenSleep, Royal Pedic, and Sheperd’s Dream, all of which carry certified organic cotton, wool and latex mattresses that have met the strict standards of the USDA National Organic Program. Price: Variable depending on brand
7 White Lotus: a great source for healthy bedding, including natural latex mattresses, organic wool and cotton mattresses, all handmade in the US. Click here for a chart on how their handmade mattresses compare with conventional mattresses, and click here for their detailed FAQ section. Price: Start around $500
8 The Wool Bed Company: all of the wool bedding products products include only materials raised or grown on farmland in the USA. The natural wool mattresses are hand-made, free-form, without any wood, metal, foam or latex. Price: $899-$1,699
9 Cozy Pure: claims they are the only bedding company in the world to utilize a trio-system of Wind, Solar and Geothermal on-site in their factory in Norfolk, VA. Feature 7 collections, all made with natural latex, wool and GOTS-Certified organic cotton, no foams, dacrons, formaldehydes or PBDEs, or other toxic chemicals, as certified by third-party safety tests. Price: $824-$5,495
10 Heart of Vermont: all mattress components, including coverings, paddings, binding tapes, and insulator pads, are made with 100% organic cotton, grown without pesticides or chemical fertilization. Featuring natural top mattresses, organic innerspring mattresses, and organic mattress sets. Find out more about the specifics of their mattresses here. Price: $1,500-$3,600
Check out these sources for more info:
ChemTox.com, Nirvana Safe Haven, New Internationalist, raworganic.com, casanaturainc.com, People For Clean Beds.org, PrescriptionBeds.com, http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-best-organic-and-ecofriend-127844
